Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Riel, Louis

(Encyclopedia)Riel, Louis lwē rēĕlˈ [key], 1844–85, Canadian insurgent, leader of two rebellions, b. Manitoba, of French and Métis parentage. In 1869–70 he led the rebels of the Red River settlements, main...

Duck Lake

(Encyclopedia)Duck Lake, small lake, central Sask., Canada, SW of Prince Albert. It was the scene of the first encounter in Riel's Rebellion (see under Riel, Louis) in 1885. A large group of Métis (persons of mixe...

Batoche

(Encyclopedia)Batoche bătŏshˈ [key], historic site, central Sask., Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. During Riel's Rebellion, Louis Riel made his headquarters there, and the rebels were routed on May 12, ...

Fitzpatrick, Sir Charles

(Encyclopedia)Fitzpatrick, Sir Charles, 1853–1942, Canadian jurist, b. Quebec. He won renown as defense counsel for Louis Riel. In Wilfrid Laurier's government he became solicitor general (1896) and minister of j...

Métis, in Canadian history and society

(Encyclopedia)Métis [Fr.,=mixed], person of mixed racial heritage, particularly a descendant of French and English fur traders and indigenous women, principally in the Canadian prairie provinces of Alberta, Manito...

Thompson, Sir John Sparrow David

(Encyclopedia)Thompson, Sir John Sparrow David, 1844–94, Canadian political leader, b. Nova Scotia. He was elected (1877) to the provincial assembly, was briefly provincial prime minister, and then was made a jus...

Mercier, Honoré

(Encyclopedia)Mercier, Honoré ōnôrāˈ mĕrsyāˈ [key], 1840–94, Canadian political leader, b. Quebec prov. Opposing confederation (1867) on the ground that unification of the Canadian provinces would imperil...

Browse by Subject